Estimates say that local mining operations lose up to 30 percent of their wastewater during operation, as a result of ineffective filtration systems.

This has devastating environmental consequences in a water-scarce country and this inefficiency is also exceptionally costly.

Responding to this problem I-CAT Environmental Solutions exclusively imports and distributes Hyflux Kristal hollow fibre ultrafiltration (UF) membranes and Azud filtration systems, which are installed in combination to serve as a comprehensive and holistic industrial wastewater filtration solution.

A long service life

Hyflux Kristal UF membranes have been proven to consistently achieve optimal results in the treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater.

I-CAT technical manager Morné van Wyk states that, as part of the company’s comprehensive wastewater filtration offering, the Kristal UF membrane is installed as a pre-filtration solution that is designed to remove all suspended solids from the water.

“Kristal is internationally-recognised as having unparalleled performance in operational consistency and stability. Using reverse osmosis, the membrane is able to trap all suspended solids up to 0,01 micron (μ) in size, before the water is passed onto the next phase of filtration,” he explains.

The membrane is available in modified polyethersulfone (PES) or polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) materials to ensure greater hydrophilicity and less fouling.

It also features an asymmetric structure for higher flux, a sharp rejection profile for high permeate quality, and boasts an enhanced tolerance to cleaning chemicals to ensure a long service life and effective air-scouring.

Greater compliance and efficiency

Once the water has undergone the pre-filtration process, van Wyk indicates that it then goes through the Azud range of filtration products, including; the Helix automatic disc filters.

“With this technology, a helix generates a centrifugal helical effect, which moves the remaining particles in the water away from the discs.”

“The filtered water is then introduced in the opposite direction through the filtering element structures, which decompresses the stacks of discs, thereby creating a backflushing effect – whereby solids are expelled through the drain valve,” he adds.

In addition to ensuring greater environmental compliance and efficiency for heavy industries, I-CAT’s unique water filtration solution can also benefit municipalities.

“The reclaimed water can also be sent to municipalities, where it can be sufficiently treated for potable usage. In addition to saving water, this solution also speeds up the process of diverting the reclaimed water to wherever it is most needed,” van Wyk concludes.